woodland owners and estates

management plans and woodland improvement grants (Wig)

If there was such a thing as a definitive guide to land management practices, it would surely say that there is no particular reason why landowners and their managers must seek grant support in respect of any management activities that are undertaken in the woodland or forest.  

Indeed, in my experience, the income generated by woodland management grants can be much diminished by the costs associated with obtaining them in the first place, let alone actually doing the work to specification.

That said, the Forestry Grant Scheme element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) presently offers a wide range of woodland improvement grants to promote good stewardship, dding value to a woodland while improving its amenity and conservation values.

This, in turn, should make the woodland a more productive, useful and satisfying place for owners, staff, guests and visitors alike. 

Despite the uncertainties regarding agricultural and rural grants after BREXIT, it is business as usual as far as Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Government are concerned, with the SRDP still providing support for a wide range of forestry and affiliated farming activities, including:

• The construction of forest roads and other access improvements.

• Restocking after timber harvesting.

• Dealing with rhododendron, bracken and other unwanted vegetation and invasive species.

• Deer and stock fencing.

• Woodland clearance, thinning or tree removal activity.

• Small-scale tree planting.

• Promoting the natural regeneration of trees.

• Paying contractors working on a day-rate.

• Ditch blocking.

• Installing stock bridges.

• Installing water troughs.

• Preparing forest management plans, deer management plans, and woodland grazing management plans.

• Managing woodlands using low-impact silvicultural systems (LISS).

• Improving the ecological condition of some native woodlands and some plantations.

• Excluding livestock.

• Controlled grazing by domestic stock in some native woodlands and plantations.

• Managing and improving woodlands in urban situations.

• Species conservation activities (including the control of predators and deer).

• Operations to prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum.

• Developing collaborative projects on a landscape-scale that involve two or more landowners.

As one would expect, there are conditions associated with most of the items on the list.

For example, some grants are only available when certain important species or habitats will benefit from the work.  

With regard to those grants that are more freely available, usually the only condition to be met is that of having a management plan that has been approved by the Forestry Commission.  This is not a bad thing in itself as there is funding available to help with the cost of developing such a plan.  

Furthermore, a good management plan is an invaluable tool for woodland owners and their managers.  Not only does the process of preparing the plan provide an opportunity to formally take stock of the current state of the forest resource, it also identifies when income from timber harvesting will be generated, when the cost of restocking will be incurred and whether opportunities exist for the future development or expansion of the woodland habitat.

In short, all forests and woodlands should have one.

As well as being useful for management purposes and for grant eligibility purposes, the management plan can also provide a route into forest certification at little additional outlay - particularly if the plan is written to be compatible with the UK Woodland Assurance Schedule (UKWAS) from the outset.

Although there are ongoing annual costs that need to be considered when deciding whether it is worthwhile joining an UKWAS scheme, there are some significant benefits depending on the owner or manager's objectives.

For example, timber from certified woodlands and forests usually moves quicker than that from non-certified sources, which is useful if log stacking space is limited.  

It can also help avoid the loss of income associated with logs drying and losing weight while waiting at roadside for uplift. 

Occasionally, certified timber from UKWAS woodlands may also attract a small price gain, but this is seldom distinguishable from other factors that influence the price offered by the timber merchant.  

Being an internationally recognised standard of good stewardship and sustainable forest management, UKWAS membership can also be attractive to owners who simply wish to be able to demonstrate that their land is managed in an independently audited and environmentally friendly manner.  

I am experienced in producing all manner of management plans, from the simple to the complex and I do this in a prompt, efficient and cost effective manner. 

Please use the links below for more information on a few of the other ways that I can help.

It is not an exhaustive list, so feel free to use the form and contact details here to send me your own requirements or questions.